Narcine bancroftii

Disc oval to rounded in out- line, about as wide as long (both disc width and length somewhat variable, ranging from 43 to 60% of total length and 45 to 57% of total length, respec- tively); greatest disc width at about 2/3 of disc length. Snout rounded to broadly angular; preorbital snout length from 10 to 16% of total length, occupying about 1/4 of disc length. Eyes relatively large, larger than spiracles and bulging in fresh specimens; spi- racles circular to ovoid, with thick, elevated bor- ders and warty papillae on entire spiracular margin (papillae more slender in juveniles). Electric organs bean-shaped, extending from level of eyes to posterior 1/5 of disc length; weighing up to 1/6 of total weight. Nasal curtain wider than long, reaching to level of upper tooth b and; nostrils with elevated borders. Mouth protru- sible, with strong labial cartilages; mouth slightly wider than nasal curtain, with exposed portions of tooth plates (7 to 9 horizontal rows) of about equal dimensions on both jaws; teeth ranging from 17/17 to 21/22 exposed vertical rows in pre-adult and adult specimens (23 to 40 cm total length) but gener ally more rows on larger specimens. Pel- vic fins wide and long, originating from underneath posterior disc margins; claspers elongate and relatively straight, not tapering very much. Tail strong and stout at base, tapering; tail length less than disc width or length; lateral tail folds prominent, originating at posterior 2/3 of first dorsal-fin base and extending to caudal peduncle. Second dorsal fin slightly larger than first; dorsal fins similar in shape; first dorsal fin origi- nates over posterior lobes of pelvic fins; caudal fin t all, fan-shaped, with broadly rounded ventral margin, and subacute dorsal apex. Pores of lateral-line system present on anterior head region, bordering electric organs and sides of tail; ampullary pores numerous dors ally and ventr ally on snout region. Colour: dorsal surface varying from yellowish brown to greyish brown and darker brown, with darker blotches anteriorly on snout over antorbital cartilages, and sm all (less than eye diameter) dark spots forming incomplete ocelli over disc and base of tail regions; dark cross-b ands usu ally present on tail at bases of dorsal and caudal fins. Ventral surface white to creamy white, sometimes with grey or brown blotches on electric organs, pectoral axils, tail re- gion or outlining disc and pelvic fins.

Body shape: other.

Widely distri buted from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and the Greater and Lesser Antilles (absent from the Bahamas). Note: This species has been almost univers ally referred to as Narcine brasiliensis (von Olfers, 1831) in our area, but recent revisions have sub- divided that previously wide-ranging species, which is now restricted to the southwestern At- lantic. Narcine bancroftii (Griffith, 1834) is the oldest available name for specimens of Narcine from our area (Carvalho, 1999a). 522 Batoid Fishes Benthobatis marcida Bean and Weed, 1909 TNB En - Blind torpedo; Sp - Raya eléctrica de profundidad. Maximum size 49 cm total length; young are about 8 to 9 cm at birth. Uni form in colour, ranging from light tan to darker brown. Benthic along the slope, between 274 and 923 m. Recorded from North Carolina to Florida Keys and Cuba. Food consists of crustaceans and o ther invertebrates, and sm all ray-fined fishes. Dorsal surface light tan; ventral surface white to pale yellow. Diplobatis colombiensis Fechhelm and Mc Eachran, 1984 En - Colombian electric ray. Maximum size 17 cm total length. Benthic on the continental shelf from 30 to 100 m. Recorded from the north- ern coast of Colombia, this species app arently is replaced in the east by Diplobatis guamachensis. Dorsal sur- face golden tan, with brown spots up to size of orbit symmetric ally arranged on disc and tail; ventral surface white to cream coloured. Diplobatis guamachensis Mart(cid:1)n, 1957 En - Brownb and numbfish. Maximum size slightly less than 20 cm total length. Continental shelf between 30 and 183 m. Recorded from Gulf of Venezuela to western Trinidad. Most common in the Gulf of Venezuela region. Replaced by Diplobatis pictus far ther eastward. Dorsal surface tan to golden tan, with darker brown wavy b ands and stripes; ventral surface white to cream coloured. Diplobatis pictus Palmer, 1950 En - Variegated electric ray; Sp - Raya eléctrica variegada. Maximum size 18 cm total length. Common over muddy and s andy bottoms, on the continental shelf, between 2 and 130 m. Recorded from sou theastern Venezuela to nor thern Brazil. Dorsal surface highly variable in colour pattern but always with spots, mottlings, and ocelli of various sizes; ventral surface white. Narcine sp. En - Sm allspotted numbfish. Maximum size 62 cm total length, but common to about 56 cm. Sizes at maturity and birth similar to Narcine bancroftii. Benthic on the continental shelf, in depths from 15 to 43 m. Recorded from Suriname to Brazil (Maranhão state). Both oviducts are functional and synchronous, and 13 embryos were observed in one 46 cm total length female. Food consists of invertebrates, especi ally polychaetes and crustaceans, and ray-finned fishes. 524 Batoid Fishes Order RAJIFORMES PRISTIDAE Sawfishes by J. D. Mc Eachran, Texas A & M University, USA and M. R. de Carvalho, Ameri can Museum of Natural History, New York, USA Diagnostic characters: Batoids of large size, regularly attaining 500 cm in total length. Body depressed anteriorly; posterior part of head, trunk, and slightly enlarged pectoral fins forming narrow, triangular disc. Snout prolonged as a stout, thin, narrow blade, armed on each side with a series of pointed teeth in sockets. Eyes and spiracles on top of head, spiracles well behind eyes; mouth transverse and straight, without barbels and grooves; teeth sm all, numerous, and arranged in b and along jaws; nostrils distinctly anterior to and completely separate from mouth, parti ally c overed by anterior lobe. Two large dorsal fins widely sepa- rated, first over pelvic-fin base; caudal fin well developed, with or without distinct ventral lobe. Tail stout and shark-like, not demarcated from body or trunk, with a longitudinal ridge along lower sides. Pectoral fins little enlarged, attached to posterior part of head, not reaching mouth and terminating anterior to ori- gin of pelvic fins. Pelvic fins with single moderately exp anded lobe. Entire body except for saw and fins densely c overed with sm all, ovoid, flat dermal denticles; no thorns. Colour: dorsal surface and lateral surfaces uni form brown, olive, grey, or yellowish; ventral surface white; fins of some species darker; border of fins and lateral cor- ner of trunk occasion ally whitish. gill sl its pectoral fin pelvic fin nostril saw ventral view spiracle dorsal fins eye dorsal view lateral view Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Sawfishes are sluggish bottom-dwelling fishes living in coastal waters, estu- aries, mouths of rivers, and in fresh waters of tropical and subtropical regions (specimens have been captured as far as 1 340 km from the mouth of the Amazon river). They occur on s andy and muddy bottoms, norm ally in less than 10 m. All of the species are viviparous without placenta. They feed on benthic organisms and sm all schooling ray-finned fishes. The saw is used to probe the bottom for benthic prey and to slash and disable schooling fishes. They are frequently captured in tropical regions by trammel nets, set nets, and trawls. Two species occur in the area, of a total of 4 to 7 in the family (identity of many nominal species needs verification). The flesh is sold frozen and salted for human consumption. Sawfishes are quite vulnerable to overfishing and habitat alteration, and as a result are in decline in many areas. Similar families occurring in the area No o ther family of rays has an enlarged snout resembling a saw, and no o ther family, except for Rhinobatidae, is shark-like. Key to the species of Pristidae occurring in the area 1a. Caudal fin with a distinct ventral lobe (Fig. 1a); rostrum with 20 or fewer pairs of teeth . . Pristis pristis 1b. Caudal fin without a distinct ventral lobe (Fig. 1b); rostrum with more than 23 pairs of teeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pristis pectinata no distinct distinct ventral ventral lobe lobe a) Pristis pristis b) Pristis pectinata Fig. 1 caudal fin List of species occurring in the area (cid:1) T(cid:1)he symbol is given when species accounts are included. (cid:1) Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794. Pristis pristis (Linnaeus, 1758).

Oviducts of female are synchronous, and may contain up to 18 embryos of various sizes. This species is relatively immobile within an area during a season, congregating on s and bars and surf zones of barrier beaches during summer, but moving to deeper offshore waters during winter months. Food consists of polychaetes and o ther invertebrates, as well as ray-finned fishes. Benthic on the continental shelf, between the shoreline and 37 m. Relatively common in some areas.

Maximum size 58 cm total length; males mature at 23 to 25 cm; females mature at 27 to 32 cm; neonates 9 to 10 cm at birth.

A benthic species on continental and insular shelves. Mainly feeds on invertebrates suction-fed off the bottom. Produces up to 16 embryos during each gestation. Maturity size of males at ca. 23 cm TL; birth size observed to be ca. 9 cm TL (Ref. 114953).

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2018-11-23. Resilience: Low (Assuming fecundity<100).